AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Eliana dips her toe into the lapping wave. “I still can’t believe any of this. I never thought I’d be used to just strolling around butt-ass naked like this. My modesty is gone.”
I chuckle, trying my best not to turn to search the trees again. “I’m used to seeing naked people. But being naked...at least, I can see what the competition is. Well, what the competition was.”
Her smile falters, and I regret my words immediately. I shouldn’t have assumed that just because we kissed and started to fuck that would mean we were together or anything.
She crinkles her nose. “Chase...I think you’re sexy, funny, caring—”
I shake my head, laughing with my nerves. Damn it. I hate this type of speech. “Ending this already, huh? You didn’t even give me a chance to show you a good time.”
She blinks her eyes a few times, her face deepening in color and not from the sun. “We can still have a good time. It’s just...with this whole situation, I think it’s best if we keep things casual. I hope you understand.”
I do understand, but it doesn’t mean that I have to like it. It makes me wonder a bit. I know that she spent a couple hours alone with Adam. Who’s to say they didn’t do anything? Not that it matters.
At least, it shouldn’t matter.
I force myself to nod. “Yeah. I get it. I didn’t mean to assume anything. Why don’t we—”
Eliana cuts me off with another kiss, her mouth molding to mine as she glides her tongue between my lips. I moan at the sensation, my body hardening once again. My cock throbs with need. I wonder if she plans to distract me like we had intended. I crave it.
A whistle sounds over the hum of the ocean, drawing our attention away from each other. I glower at the sand and then look to see part of our group kicking their way in our direction.
“Oh, no,” Eliana whispers. “Are they carrying supplies?”
Squinting my eyes, I spot what she does. Tristan, Adam, Evander, and Davian look as if they are leaving the camp we had built. No one else is with them either.
I link my hand with Eliana’s and pull her away from the water. “What’s going on?” I ask, shouting the words.
“We’re splitting up temporarily,” Evander says, striding ahead of the others. “The others are going to need more time to cool off. We can discuss it more later. We need to get shit together for a new camp tonight.”
I side-glance Eliana. “They must’ve decided I’m too much of a monster to have around.”
She exhales a long breath. “They’re going to realize they need a monster on their side if they’re going to survive this. I’m sure they’ll see.”
If only that didn’t have to be the case. But Eliana is right. This island seems to devour the weak. I’ll do whatever it takes to be strong.
Chapter eight
Eliana
Difficult Decisions
IRESTMYheadon Davian’s shoulder, using him to keep upright. It’s been three nights since we split off from the others, and we’re all getting restless. I considered going back to our old shelter to see if we could work things out, but Chase and Evander asked me not to. They don’t think the risk is worth it. I think they’re just stubborn and want to make a point. I can’t really blame them.
“Are you still hungry, Elle? There’s enough light for me to get a couple pieces of fruit for you.” Davian meets my gaze. “I wouldn’t mind. I’m bored as fuck and need to stretch.”
I open my mouth to offer to go with him, but Evander grumbles something indecipherable under his breath and nudges Chase, pointing down the beach.
“Maybe stick around for a couple more minutes. That psycho is walking with a purpose.” Tristan grabs his stick from the sand beside him.
He’s talking about Alicia as she leads her group, carrying her own makeshift spear. They look rough, their bodies scraped and bruised up. Even from here, I can see the mosquito bites clustered across their limbs.
“Let’s just hear them out, okay? I don’t want to start shit if we don’t have to.” Adam gets to his feet and dusts the sand off his ass. He’s already more tanned from sitting in the sun. Only Davian keeps to the shade of the tree beside me, his fair skin tinged pink with a sunburn.
My skin is super dry from the salt and the sand, but I try not to think about it. I’ve grown used to being uncomfortable. It could be worse. I could be in pain. I could be dead.
“Hey, if you’re here for any other reason than to make amends with us, turn your asses around and go back to your camp.” Evander takes the spear from Tristan. We each have one, but I know he wants to make it look as if we don’t. “We don’t want trouble.”
None of us trust them. We’ve just grown to trust each other. Because Tristan, Davian, Adam, and Evander chose us. Well, technically, they chose Chase. He’s the one that group is truly pissed off at even though it was me who mentioned a mercy killing to begin with.
